Jesus and Justice Exam 2 Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Jesus and Justice lecture notes, including the Reign of God, Two Standards, Jewish groups in Jesus' time, heresies, and theories of salvation.

The Reign of God vs. Anti-Reign

The Reign of God represents God’s kingdom of love, justice, and peace on earth. This is what God wants the world to look like. The Anti-Reign is the opposite - a world full of sin, hatred, and injustice. Christians are called to work toward building God’s kingdom by fighting against the Anti-Reign forces in society.

Consolation and Desolation

Consolation is the spiritual experience of feeling close to God, filled with peace, joy, and spiritual comfort. During consolation, a person feels God’s presence strongly. Desolation is the opposite - feeling far from God, experiencing sadness, emptiness, or spiritual dryness. Even Jesus experienced desolation on the cross when he cried out “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Two Standards (Ignatius)

Ignatius taught about two opposing ways to live life. Christ’s standard focuses on poverty, humility, and service to others, especially the poor and marginalized. Satan’s standard focuses on riches, honor, and pride. Christians must choose which standard to follow. The choice affects how we treat others and understand our purpose.

Downward and Upward Mobility

Christ’s way involves downward mobility - choosing to be with the poor and rejected rather than seeking wealth and status. This contrasts with society’s upward mobility that seeks power and riches. Following Christ means embracing solidarity with those who suffer and choosing a path of humility and service.

Humility and Solidarity

True humility means knowing your place before God and serving others, especially the poor. It's not false modesty or thinking poorly of yourself. Solidarity means standing with people who are poor and suffering, just like Jesus did. The three kinds of humility show different levels of following Christ - from basic moral behavior to actually desiring poverty and rejection like Christ.

Ressentiment

This is a special kind of bitter feeling toward people who have what you want. It's different from regular resentment because it turns inward and makes you focus on what others have instead of using your own gifts. Ressentiment causes false humility where people deny their own goodness and talents. It can happen between people of similar social status who could potentially have what the other person has.

Magnanimity/Magis

Magnanimity means having a great soul and doing great things for God[2]. It's the opposite of false humility. You can take proper pride in good work while still giving glory to God[2]. This concept encourages people to use their talents fully rather than hiding them out of false modesty.

Jewish Groups at the Time of Jesus

Several Jewish groups existed when Jesus lived[1]. Pharisees focused on carefully following Jewish law and traditions. Sadducees controlled the Temple and worked with Roman authorities. Essenes lived apart from mainstream society in desert communities. These groups shaped the religious and political context of Jesus' ministry.

Kerygma/Paschal Mystery

Kerygma is the core Christian message about Jesus - that he lived, died, and rose again for salvation[1]. The Paschal Mystery refers specifically to Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection[1]. This is the heart of Christian faith and the source of salvation for humanity.

Hellenism and Hebrew Perspectives

Greek culture (Hellenism) mixed with Jewish ideas in Jesus' time[1]. Greek dualism split body and soul, seeing the physical world as less important[1]. Hebrew holism saw humans as unified beings - body and soul together[1]. Early Christians had to blend these different worldviews when explaining who Jesus was.

Pre-existence Christologies and Logos

Jesus is the Logos - God's Word made flesh[1]. He is also Divine Wisdom who existed before creation[1]. John's Gospel shows this with Jesus' "I Am" statements that connect him to God's name[1]. This Logos Christology explains how Jesus can be both fully God and fully human.

Christological Hymns in the New Testament

Early Christian hymns like Philippians 2:6-11 show how the first Christians understood Jesus[3]. These hymns contrast Jesus with Adam - where Adam grasped at equality with God, Jesus "did not regard equality with God something to be grasped"[3]. Instead, Jesus emptied himself and became human.

Major Heresies and Orthodox Solutions

Gnosticism taught that the physical world was evil and only spiritual things mattered[1]. Docetism claimed Jesus only seemed human but wasn't really human[1]. Arianism said Jesus was less than God the Father[1]. Adoptionism taught Jesus became God's son at baptism. Nestorianism separated Jesus' divine and human natures too much. Monophysitism merged his natures into one.The Church responded with orthodox solutions. Homoousious means Jesus has the same substance as God the Father[1]. The hypostatic union explains how Jesus is fully God and fully human in one person[3]. Theotokos (God-bearer) confirms that Mary gave birth to God, not just a human who later became divine[1].

Alexandria vs. Antioch

These two schools had different approaches to understanding Jesus. Alexandria emphasized Jesus' divinity and unity. Antioch emphasized Jesus' full humanity and the distinction between his natures. Both contributed important insights to Christian understanding.

Original Sin and Apotheosis

Original sin began with Adam and Eve's first sin, which was apotheosis - trying to become like God[3]. This was not just eating wrong fruit, but the deeper sin of denying their humanity and trying to be divine[3]. This brought sin and death into the world. All humans are born into this sinful condition and need salvation.

Proto-Evangelium

Genesis 3:15 is called the "first gospel" because it promises that the woman's offspring will defeat the serpent[3]. Christians see this as the first promise of salvation through Christ, who will crush Satan's head.

Gnosticism

Said the physical world was evil.

Eastern Theories of Salvation: Recapitulation Theory

All humanity was brought under Adam's headship when he sinned[2]. Christ becomes the new head of humanity, replacing Adam[2]. Christ's entire life - not just his death - has salvific power[2]. Everything is reordered under Christ's headship and drawn up into God's divine life.

Eastern Theories of Salvation: Theosis/Divinization

"The Word became what we are in order to make us what he is"[2]. God draws humans up into divine life, not literally making them gods, but sharing God's divine nature[2]. This contrasts with apotheosis (humans trying to make themselves divine) - instead, God makes humans divine through grace.

Western Theories of Salvation: Augustine:

Salvation comes through Christ's perfect obedience to God, contrasting with Adam's disobedience[2]. Human nature is utterly depraved through sin, and only Christ's obedience can save us[2]. Augustine emphasizes that we cannot save ourselves through our own works.

Western Theories of Salvation: Anselm (Satisfaction Theory):

Humans owe a debt to God because of sin, but only God can pay a debt owed to God[2]. Therefore, only a God-man (Jesus) could make the perfect payment[2]. This theory comes from Anselm's medieval European context of honor and debt payment[2]. The innocent Jesus pays the debt that guilty humans owe.

Western Theories of Salvation: Lombard

Emphasized restoration of humanity over payment to God[2]. Salvation restores humans to "original balance with God and God's plan for creation"[2]. Less focus on transaction, more on healing and restoration.

Western Theories of Salvation:Aquinas

Jesus provides the ultimate example of how humans should live[2]. By imitating Christ's humanity, we can follow his path to salvation[2]. Jesus reveals God while remaining truly human and worthy of imitation.

Western Theories of Salvation:Scotus

Christ would have come even if humans had not sinned[2]. The Incarnation was always part of God's plan for creation, not just a response to sin[2]. Christ is the center of God's creative activity.

Western Theories of Salvation:Luther

Focused on how Jesus personally and directly saves individuals[2]. Used the cross as central symbol of God's dramatic rescue of humanity[2]. Without Christ, there would be "only a vast abyss of anger and enmity" between God and humans[2]. Emphasized personal relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Ransom Theory (Fishhook Theory)

This creative theory says God goes fishing for Satan using Jesus as bait[2]. Satan acquired rights over human life because of sin[2]. When Satan kills the sinless Jesus, he overstepped his rights and must give up his claim on humanity[2]. God tricks Satan into freeing all humans by offering him one innocent life.

Key Biblical Passages

Romans 5:12-21 contrasts Adam and Christ - through one man sin and death entered, through another man grace and life come[3]. Philippians 2:6-11 shows Jesus as the New Adam who chose humility instead of grasping at divine equality[3]. These passages form the biblical foundation for understanding salvation.

Soteriology

The study of salvation

Atonement

Being made right with God

Justification

Entering into right relationship with God.

Proto-Evangelium

The first gospel promise, found in Genesis, about defeating evil.